Third-rail electric railway system



March l0, 1931. R, F. ALLEN 1,795,591

THIRD-RAIL ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1929 @f3 /lf ff i Z l-27 25 fm 54 57@ @M7-:Ley

Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES RODNEY'F. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS THIRD-RAIL ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM Application filed June 29,

The invention relates to a third-rail electric railway system, and isparticularly adapted for railway systems used for elevated railroads orinterurban lilies.

One of the primary objects oithe invention is to employ a third-railtrolley which is secured to the truck body of the railway car and hasthe trolley wheel in Contact with the under surface of the third-rail,which latter is preferably held in elevated position beside the track ofthe railway system, and which third-rail is so constructed and placed insuch ,a position as to be free from rain, snow, ice etc., at all times,in order that a positive and uninterrupted electrical contact may alwaysbe made by the trolley wheel with the third-rail.

Another of the primary objects of the invention is tol form th-e trolleyand its associated parts in such a manner that a good contact betweenthe trolley wheel and the third-rail, shall be established andmaintained irrespective of any unusual obstructions7 roughness orforeign substances on the rails, or unevenness or inequalities therein,or variations in the height thereof.

It will be readily apparent that it is im portant, to maintain a perfectelectrical contact between the trolley wheel and the thirdrail in orderthat the electric railway car and train may be under control and inperfect electrical operation at the will and control of the trainoperator.

It is another object of the invention to embody in the construction arocking or oscillating element positioned with reference to,

and operated by, certain springs whereby smoothness and evenness ofoperation ot the third-rail trolley shall invariably and continuously besecured.

One of the further objects of the invention is to construct thethird-rail trolley supports so that they may be readily adjusted ltosuit conditions of assembly .and operation in order to securesatisfactory operation of the apparatus. Y

A further object of the invention is to construct the rocking element insuch a manner that although the trolley may rock in either directionlongitudinally of the truck and in 1929. Serial No. 374,848.

the-direction of travel of the electric railway car or train, no lateralor transverse motion of the trolley wheel will be possible.

The invention will be explained and more readily understood when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodimentof the invention, but it will be understood that various changes andmodifications of which the invention is susceptible may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the third-rail trolley system of theinvention shown in supported position on the truck of a railway car,shown in dotted lines, and also shows in section. a portion of thethird-rail.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of the inventionin position on the railway car truck, on the line 2-2 of Figure l, andalso shows the third-rail in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse View of the struc ture shown in Figures 1 and 2on the lines 3 3 of Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view or the rocker element of thestructure.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the rocker element, and

Figure G is a perspective view of the rocher element.

The third-rail trolley mechanism of the invention is secured to thetruck body of the electric railway car in any suitable manner. As shownin the drawings the structure of the invention is secured to thecarriage 10 of the truck beneath the springs 11 and between the cushionsprings 12 and 13. These various parts oi the truck are assembled withthe wheels 14 and 15 which ride upon the rail 1G.

Vertical supporting bars 17 and 18 are secured to the truck body in anysuitablel manner. The lower ends of each of the bars are provided withcorrugations 19 and 20, respectively, adapt-ed to fit in correspondingcorrugations 21 and 22, respectively7 of the transverse supporting bar23 which extends from the outer lower ends of the vertical supportingbars 17 and 18. The vertical supporting bars 17 and 18 and thetransverse 1.1, tion 31 by the curved arm supporting bar 23 form astructure in the nature of a stirrup for the support of the entire'trolley and rocker mechanism.

The transverse supporting bar 23` is provided with a pair ot outwardlyextending ears or lugs 241 and 25. These lugs or ears 2st and 25 areintegral with the transverse supporting` bar 23 and must be made ofsuflicient strength and rigidity to support the outer ends ot a pair otrelatively heavy fiat metallic compression springs 26 and 27, which arebolted to the ears 24 and 25, respectively, by means ot the sets oibolts and nuts 28 and 2t, respectively.

A rocker element, generally designated 30, is loosely mounted upon theflat springs 2G and 27. The rocker element is formed with the rockerbody 31, having a round bolt hole 32 extending transversely through itfor the insertion of a bolt 83, preferably a round bolt. Extendingoutwardly from the main rocker body 31, and integral therewith, is thetrolley arm support 34. The trolley arm support 3% connected to the mainrocker por- The trolley arm portion 34 is provided with the square hole36 extendingl vertically entirely therethrough for the reception andreciprocation oi' the rectangular depending stem 37 ot the bii'urcatedtrolley wheel arm 38. The trolley wheel 39 is suitably secured to rotatein the arms ot the biturcated arm 38. The trolley wheel 39 is mounted ona shaft fitted in the arms, and the shaft is suitably lubricated.

lVlien in operative position a relatively strong` compression coilspring.;` Ll() is placed about the depending stem portion 37. The upperend of the coil spring presses against the lower surface of thebiturcated portion ot' the trolley arm 238 and the lower end of the coilspring` 40, is seated upon and presses against the upper face of theextended body portion or arm A of the rocker element. l`he lower end otthe stem :i7 o lE the trolley arm provided with an aperture throughwhich is extended a limiting pin ll., which serves to limit the movementoi thc trolley arm Elta with its stein 37 through the aperture 256.

The third-rail 42 may be supported in any approved manner, theparticular design of support not 'forming` a part of the invention. Asshown the support t3, provided with the suitably insulated arm tat, isdesigned to hold the third-rail 42 in proper relative position to formelectrical contact with the trolley wheel 39. The supporting` rod allmay be either round or square, as desired` and it may be secured to thethird-rail in any approved manner, eitner as shown, with the curvedportion to which the third-rail is welded, or otherwise. secured, or itmay have the arm extending directly in a straighty line and secured tothe third-rail. The third-rail preterably is a channel iron withdownwardly extending- {lang-es, such as L15 ande-(, so that at all timesthe contacting surlaec ot the third-rail with the trolley wheel 3f),will be dry and clear and tree from rain, sleet, ice, etc. Thethird-rail is prcferaliy made wide enough so that any drippinp's oi'rain or snow will fall away from the trolley arm, the coil spring,` andother associated parts.

The transverse suppfn-ting` bar 2B is adlustably secured in the lowerends oi the vertical supporting` bars 17 and 1S. Vertical slots 47 and48 are placed in one end ol the, transverse supporting' bar 23 andextend into and through thc lower end ol" the vertical su pporting bar17. Bolts and nuts l-O and 50, respectively. are iitted into the slots#i7 and 4:8 and permit vertical adjustment ot the har 3 carrying; theintegral extensions 24- and and the flat springs 2G and 27. withrelation to the vertical bar 17. A correspondine` pair ot slots 51 and52 and bolts and nuts 5S and 54, similar in construction and mperationto the slots 1l-7 and i8 and the bolts and nuts 49 and 50, are placed inthe other end ot the transverse bar 23 and the lower end of the verticalbar 18.

The round bolt 33, which extends in the aperture 32 through the rockerbody portion 31 and into the transverse supporting bar 2". is providedat its outer end with a nut 55. rl`he nut and the. stem end ot thetrolley arm are placed in such relative positions that the stem 37 willhe tree to pass downwardly through the aperture 3G in the extension arm34, past the nut without interference.

A spacer nut 56 is placed on the round bolt to maintain the rockerelement Il() a suitable distance from the transverse supportingV rod Itwill be understood trom the 'foregoing description ot' the inventionthat in normal operation the trolley wheel arm will press against theunder surface o't the third-rail` because ot' the action ot thecompression spring' 4-0 which always tends to raise the trolley arm andcause the, trolley wheel lo malte the contact with the under surface olthe third-rail.

lt will also lie understood that the resistance offered by thethird-rail to the in )ward action ot the spring;` 40 causes thedepression ol the rocker element 8O against the normal upward action otthe flat flexible springs 2G and 27 causing' the tree ends oi" thelatter to be depressed. These springs are sutliciently strong to resistcomplete bending or depression ol the springs and the passage betweentheir free ends of the rocker element 30.

It will be obvious that Vin thc event that there is an irregularity, orunusual obstruction on the track rail, or a variation in the height ofthe track rail with respect to the third-rail, the trolley arm and wheelwill rock longitudinally on the springs 26 and 2T through the medium or"the rocher SO secured by the bolt 33.

Althoiurh the entire trolley i liu arm Wheel and rocker are free tooscillate or tilt backwardly or forwardly longitudinally with the car,the trolley wheel is always kept in a straight forward position andifree from lateral movement due to the rectangular forni of the stem 37,fitted in the square or rectangular opening 36. It will also be obviousthat not only may the adjustability of the transverse supporting bar 23,in an upward or downward direction be secured, but lateral movement ordisplacement of the transverse supporting bar 23 and the flat iieXiblesprings 26 and 27 is prevented because of the connection of the ends ofthe transverse bar 23 with the ends of the vertical bars 17 and 18 bymeans of the corrugations 19, 21 and 20, 22, respectively.

It will be understood also that the thirdrail will be located the usualdistance outside of the nearest rail of the track, and the usualdista-nce above the top of the rail, and that the rocker element, thetrolley arm and wlieel and the supporting members for the entiremechanism will be of suitable and proper dimensions to cause the entirethird-rail system to be correctly and advantageously operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I cla-im and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 In a third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar truck, a stirrup secured to said truck, two flat springs secured attheir outer ends to said stirrup, the free ends of sai-d springs beingseparated from each other, and a rocker movable on the free end portionsof said springs, said rocker being connected with a trolley having atrolley wheel adapted to contact with a third-rail.

2. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar truck, an adjustable stirrup secured to said truck, two flat springssecured at their outer ends to said stirrup, the free ends of saidsprings f being adjacent each other, and a rocker movable on saidsprings, said rocker being connected with a trolley having a, trolleywheel adapted to contact with a third-rail.

3. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar truclr, vertical supports secured to said truck, a transversesupport connected with said vertical supports and adjustable therewith,a pair ot Hat springs secured at their outer ends to said transversesupport, and leaving a space between the inner free ends of sai-dsprings, and a rocker spanning said space and adapted to rock on saidsprings, a trolley arm associated with said rocker and adapted to moverelatively thereto, said rocker permitting longitudinal rocking movementof said trolley but preventing lateral movement thereof with respect tothe third-rail.

4. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar truck, of

vertical and horizontal supports, said supports being adjustable witheach other in a vertical relation, said horizontal support havingintegral lugs or ears extending from its opposite end portions, a flatspring extending from each of said lugs or ears, a rocker adapted torock on said springs, a trolley arm movably associated with said rocker,said trolley arm having a trolley wheel adapted to contact with athird-rail.

5. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar truck, of vertical and horizontal supports, said supports beingadjustable with each other in a vertical relation, said horizontalsupport having integral lugs or ears extending from its opposite endportions, two flat springs extending toward each other from each of saidlugs or ears, but not meeting, a rocker adapt ed to rock on saidsprings, a trolley arm movably associated with said rocker, said trolleyarm having a trolley wheel adapted to contact with a third-rail.

6. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination oit a railwaycar truck, vertical and transverse supports secured there to, flatlleXible springs secured at opposite ends of said transverse support,the free ends of which springs extend toward each other but do not meet,a rocker element adapted to roel: on said springs, the rocker elementhaving a. main rocking portion and an outwardly extending arm portion, atrolley arm vertically movable with relation to said outwardly extendingrocker portion, a trolley' wheel secured to said trolley arm and adaptedto contact with a third-rail. n

7. Ina third-rail electric railway system the combination of a railwaycar trunk, vertical and transverse supports secured thereto, fiatflexible springs secured at opposite ends of said transverse support,the free ends orn which springs extend toward each other but do notmeet, a rocker element adapted to roclr on said springs, the rocherelement havingva. main rocking portion and an outwardly extending armportion, a. trolley arm movable with relation tosaid outwardly ertendingarm portion, a trolley wheel securedI to said trolley arm and adapted tocontact with a third-rail, said main rocker Vportion being provided witha horizontal aperture "for a supporting bolt and said extended armportion being provided with au aperture for the reception andreciprocation of the trolley v arm.

8. In a third-rail electric railway system the combination oi:` aV'ailway car truck, vertical and transverse adjustable supports securedthereto, flat metallic springs secured at opposite ends of saidtransverse support, the free ends of which springs extend toward eachother but do not meet, a rocker element adapted to rock on the endportions of said springs, the rocker elenrent having a main rockingportion and an outwardly extending arm portion, a trolley arm v rticallymovable with relation to said outwardly extending arm portion, a trolleywheel. secured to said trolley arm and adapted to contact with athird-rail, said main rocker portion being provided with a roundhorizontal aperture for a siubporting bolt, and said extended armportion being' provided with a vertical Square aperture for thereception and reciprocation otl the trolley arm.

9. ln a third-rail electric railway System the combination of a railwaycar truck, vertical supports on said car truck, a transverse supportadjustably secured to Said vertical supports, each oi Said verticalsupports havine` corrugations at its outer lower end, Said transversesupporti having,` eorrugations at its opposite inner ends, saidcorrugations on Fsaid vertical and transverse supports being adapted tocontact and register to avoid lateral displacement thereot, saidtransverse support being vertically adjustable with said verticalsupports, said transverse support being' provided with outwardlyextending integral lugs at iteopposite outer end portions, a latmetallic spring extending inwardly from each of said luge, a r ckeradapted to rock upon the free end portions of said iieX- ible springs,said rocker having a main body portion with a round horizontal holeadapted to receive a Supporting' bolt, said rocker having' an integraloutwardly extending arm, said arm having a square vertical aperture, atrolley arm having an enlarged biturcated head portion with a trolleywheel, Said trolley arm having' a dependent rectangular Stem portionadapted to reciprocate in said square vertical opening in Said outwardlyextending rocker arm, and a coil compression spring,r surrounding saidrectangular stem normally adapted to cause said trolley wheel to remainin contact with the third-rail.

l0. In a third-rail electric railway System the combination ot a railwaycar truck, an adjustable supporting stirrup, the adjustment ot saidstirrup beine' .secured by aI plurality ot bolts and sloteI in themembers ot said stirrup, one ot the members of the `Qtirrup having'outwardly extending lugs at its opposite end portions, flat metallicsprings Secured to Said lugs at one end with their free ends extendingtoward each other but not meeting, a rocker element having' a main bodyrocher portion with a hole therein 'for the reception ot a rocking bolt,said rocker element also having' an integral outwardly extending,` arm,which has a vertical rectangular hole therein, a trolley arm having; abiturcated main body portion, a trolley wheel adapted to rotate betweenthe bitur cated arms, the trolley arm having a depending' rectangulastem adapted to he reciprocated in said rectangular vertical hole in theoutwardly extending rocker arm and a compression coil spring`surrounding said depending rectangular stem interposed between thebitureated portion oit the trolley arm and the outwardly extending'rocker arn'i portion.

ll. In a rocker element for a third-rail electric railway trolley systemthe combination ol'V a main body rocking' portion with a transverse holetherein for a bolt or other su pporting' member, otl an arm portionintegral with said. main rocking body portion and extending' therefromand having a hole therein at right angles to said g'irst mentioned hole'For the reception of the stem of a trolley Wheel arm.

12. In a rocker element for a third-rail electric railway trolley systemthe cmnbinatirni ot a main body rocking portion with a horizontal roundhole therein, o't an arm poi tion integral with said main rocking' bodyportion and extendin therefrom and having a vertical ,figuare holetherein4` said horizontal round hole being' adapted to contain a boltfor securing said rocker element and said vertical square hole beingadapted to receive the rectangular stem of a trolley wheel arm.

In witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day ot June,A. l). 1925).

RODNEY l?. ALLEN.

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